“So it’s not just about their heart, it’s about their other organs, their mental health, their social support, their psychosocial environment, their compliance history,” he says. “Do they use drugs? Have they used drugs? Things like that.”

(Dr. Rene Alvarez. Photo provided)

Alvarez (right) says the team has a duty not just to the patient, but to the donor’s family to make sure their gift serves its highest purpose.

He says there are about 2,200 heart transplants a year but as many as 50,000 people on the waiting list.

“So transplantation is not the solution for the treatment of heart failure,” he adds. “And that’s why there are mechanical hearts and other therapeutics being investigated, because transplantation is only a therapy for a very few.”